Food processing system

ABSTRACT

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for processing system foodstuff are shown and described. Food processing systems can hold and prepare food for consumption. The disclosed embodiments provide a drive mechanism that utilizes a contoured surface between a ratchet wheel and a drive mechanism that rotates the ratchet wheel to move the ratchet wheel toward and in engagement with a drive wheel for initiating rotation of the drive wheel and to disengage the ratchet wheel from the drive wheel to allow the drive wheel to rotate freely. The drive wheel is configured to couple to a processing component of the processing system.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 60/876,694 filed Dec. 21, 2006 andU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/934,221 filed Jun. 11, 2007,where these two provisional applications are incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure in some embodiments generally relates toprocessing systems, and more specifically to food processing systems.

2. Description of the Related Art

Food preparation devices often have movable internal components used toprocess food. Salad spinners, for example, have a rotatable inner basketnested in an outer bowl. Salad ingredients are placed in the innerbasket, and a removable cover is used to cover both the filled innerbasket and the outer bowl. The inner basket is then rotated relative tothe outer bowl to drive water on the salad ingredients through holes inthe inner basket. The water is then collected in the outer bowl. Saladspinners often have a movable handle that rotates about an axis ofrotation that is collinear with the axis about which the inner basketrotates. Rotation of the handle causes rotation of the inner basket.Other types of salad spinners have a linearly reciprocating handle usedto drive the rotatable inner basket. A drive assembly of such saladspinner converts the linear reciprocating movement of the handle torotary motion of the inner basket.

Spice grinders, such as pepper grinders, often have a grinding mechanismdriven by a rotatable handle. Similar to salad spinners, the handlerotates about an axis of rotation that is parallel to an axis ofrotation of a rotatable grinding element of the grinding mechanism. Togrind pepper, the user grips a main body of the pepper grinder androtates the handle relative to the main body. The handle drives thegrinding element, which in turn grinds peppercorns. The ground pepperthen falls out of the pepper grinder for subsequent consumption.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a food processing system comprises a main bodydefining a chamber, an actuatable lever pivotally coupled to the mainbody, and a tool disposed within the main body. The actuatable lever ispivotable relative to the main body about a lever axis of rotationbetween an open position and a closed position. The tool is rotatablerelative to the main body about a tool axis of rotation. The tool axisof rotation is non-parallel with the lever axis of rotation. In someembodiments, the processing system also includes a drive systemconnecting the actuatable lever to the tool such that the tool isrotated about the tool axis of rotation in response to the actuatablelever pivoting between the open position and the closed position.

In other embodiments, a food processing system comprises a containerassembly including a main body, a cover removably coupleable to the mainbody, and a holding chamber defined at least in part by the main bodyand the cover. The cover has a bracket that defines a first axis ofrotation spaced from the chamber. A lever system is coupled to thecover. The lever system is pivotable about the first axis of rotationbetween an open position and a closed position. A drive system extendsbetween the lever system and the main body. At least a portion of themain body is rotatable about a second axis of rotation when the leversystem is pivoted between the open position and the closed position.

In yet other embodiments, a drive system is configured to impartrotational motion to a processing component of a food processing systemand facilitate free rotation thereof, the food processing system havinga chamber for holding a food item to be processed. The drive systemincludes an actuator coupled to a drive shaft extending along a firstaxis and configured to be coupled to the processing component, and anengagement/disengagement mechanism coupling the actuator to the driveshaft and configured to engage the drive shaft upon actuation to impartrotational motion to the drive shaft, and to disengage from the driveshaft following actuation to facilitate free rotation of the driveshaft.

In one embodiment, the engagement/disengagement mechanism includes adrive mechanism configured to be rotatably mounted with respect to thechamber and having at least one protrusion, the drive mechanism rotatingin response to actuation of the actuator. Furthermore, theengagement/disengagement mechanism includes a ratchet wheel adjacent thedrive mechanism and being moveable along the first axis between anengaged position and a disengaged position, and having a first surfaceand a second surface, opposed to the first surface, the first surfacehaving a variable contour including a first end and a second end, andthe second surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth.

In an aspect, the engagement/disengagement mechanism further has a drivewheel coupled to the drive shaft and having a plurality ofcircumferentially driven teeth wherein, before relative rotation of thedrive mechanism the ratchet wheel is in the disengaged position in whichthe protrusion is positioned toward the first end of the variablecontour and the ratchet wheel is spaced from the drive wheel, uponrelative rotation of the drive mechanism the protrusion traveling alongthe variable contour toward the second end, an interaction between theprotrusion and the variable contour rotating the ratchet wheel andmoving the ratchet wheel toward the engaged position to facilitateengagement of the plurality of teeth to the plurality of driven teeth,respectively, to rotate the drive wheel and drive shaft, the drivemechanism ceasing relative rotation when the protrusion approximatelyreaches the second end, allowing the rotating ratchet wheel to rotatewith respect thereto and the ratchet wheel to return to the disengagedposition, facilitating disengagement of the plurality of teeth from theplurality of driven teeth, the drive wheel and the drive shaft rotatingfreely upon the disengagement.

In yet another embodiment, a food processing system is provided, whichincludes the drive mechanism having an engagement/disengagementmechanism.

According to still another embodiment, a drive system configured toimpart rotational motion to a processing component of a food processingsystem and facilitate free rotation thereof, the food processing systemhaving a chamber for holding a food item to be processed. The drivesystem includes an actuator coupled to a drive shaft extending along afirst axis and configured to be coupled to the processing component, andan engagement/disengagement mechanism coupling the actuator to the driveshaft and configured to engage the drive shaft upon actuation to impartrotational motion to the drive shaft, and to disengage from the driveshaft following actuation to facilitate free rotation of the driveshaft.

In one embodiment, the engagement/disengagement mechanism includes adrive mechanism rotatably mounted with respect to the chamber and havingat least one structural feature, a ratchet wheel being moveable in adirection substantially parallel to the first axis between an engagedposition and a disengaged position, and having a first surface and asecond surface, opposed to the first surface, the first surface having avariable contour including a first end and a second end, and the secondsurface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth.

In an aspect, the engagement/disengagement mechanism further includes adrive wheel coupled to the drive shaft and having a plurality ofcircumferentially driven teeth wherein, an interaction between thecontoured surface of the ratchet wheel and the structural feature of thedrive mechanism rotates the ratchet wheel and moves the ratchet wheeltoward the engaged position to facilitate engaging the plurality ofteeth to the plurality of driven teeth to impart rotational motion tothe drive wheel, the contoured surface having a stop member configuredto confront the structural feature, ceasing relative rotation of thedrive mechanism while the ratchet wheel continues to rotate, to move theratchet wheel to the disengaged position, allowing the drive wheel torotate freely.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a processing system, in accordance withone illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the processing system of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the processing system taken alongthe line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a processing system, partiallycut-away, wherein a lever is in an open position.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the processing system of FIG. 4,wherein the lever is in a closed position.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the processingsystem of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a lever system coupled to an uppercover, in accordance with one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the lever system coupled to theupper cover.

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the lever system coupled to theupper cover.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an inner cover of a processing system,in accordance with one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the inner cover of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the inner cover of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of an inner container of a processing system, inaccordance with one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the inner container of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the inner container of FIG. 13taken along the line 15-15 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of an outer container of a processing system, inaccordance with one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the outer container of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional elevational view of the outer container ofFIG. 16 taken along the line 18-18 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a processing system, in accordance withanother illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the processing system of FIG. 19taken along the line 20-20 of FIG. 19.

FIGS. 21-27 are several external views of a particular design for aprocessing system.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of a processing system, in accordance withone illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a cover assembly, in accordance withone illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 30 is an exploded perspective view of a cover assembly, inaccordance with one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a cover assembly, in accordance withone illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a portion of a rotatable driveassembly, in accordance with one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view of components of a cover assembly, inaccordance with one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a bottom view of the components illustrated in FIG. 33.

FIGS. 35-38 show a rotatable drive member, in accordance with oneillustrated embodiment.

FIG. 39 is a side elevational view of a processing system, in accordancewith one illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 40 is a bottom view of a processing system, in accordance with oneillustrated embodiment.

FIG. 41 is a plan view of a processing system, in accordance with oneillustrated embodiment.

FIG. 42 is a front view of a processing system, in accordance with oneillustrated embodiment.

FIG. 43 is a back view of a processing system, in accordance with oneillustrated embodiment.

FIG. 44 is an isometric view of a processing system, in accordance withone illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 45 is an isometric view of a portion of the processing system ofFIG. 44.

FIG. 46 is an isometric exploded view of the processing system of FIG.44.

FIG. 47A is an isometric view of a portion of the processing system ofFIG. 44.

FIG. 47B is a cross-sectional view of the portion of the processingsystem of FIG. 47A, viewed across section 47B-47B.

FIG. 48A is an isometric view of a portion of the processing system ofFIG. 44.

FIG. 48B is an isometric exploded view of the portion of the processingsystem of FIG. 48A.

FIG. 49 is an isometric view of the processing system of FIG. 44.

FIG. 50A is a side view of a portion of the processing system of FIG.44, shown in a disengaged position.

FIG. 50B is the side view of the processing system of FIG. 50A, shown inan engaged position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present detailed description is generally directed to a system forprocessing foodstuff. Many specific details of certain exampleembodiments and designs are set forth in the following description andin FIGS. 1-27 to provide a thorough understanding of such embodiments.One skilled in the art, however, will understand that the disclosedembodiments may be practiced without one or more of the detailsdescribed in the following description. Additionally, the processingsystems are discussed in the context of preparing foodstuff because theyhave particular utility in this context. For example, the processingsystems are particularly well suited for drying, grinding, dispensing,milling, crushing, metering, or otherwise processing or deliveringconsumable products.

It should be noted that, as used in this specification and the appendedclaims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referentsunless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, a lever mayinclude a single lever or a plurality of levers. It should also be notedthat the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or”unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a processing system 100 for spinning contents heldtherein. The illustrated processing system 100 includes a main body 106and a lever system 110 movably coupled to the main body 106. The mainbody 106 includes a cover assembly 114 removably coupled to an innercontainer 120 and/or an outer container 122 surrounding the innercontainer 120. The lever system 110 includes an actuatable lever 130connected to the inner container 120 via a drive system 144 disposed ina drive system housing 145. In response to moving the lever 130 from anopen position (FIGS. 1-4) to a closed position (FIG. 5), the drivesystem 144 rotates the inner container 120, and any contents in theinner container 120, relative to the outer container 122 and the coverassembly 114.

The cover assembly 114 of FIG. 2 includes inner and outer covers 136,138 that mate with the inner and outer containers 120, 122,respectively. The inner cover 136 has a protruding drive member 140configured to mate with the drive system 144 and to impart rotary motionto the inner cover 136 and the inner container 120 coupled to the innercover 136 to rotate as a unit therewith.

The illustrated drive system 144 of FIGS. 1-3 converts pivoting motionof the lever 130 in a vertical orientation (as viewed) to rotary motionof the inner container 120 in a horizontal orientation (as viewed).Other types of drive systems can also be used.

The inner container 120 can be a perforated basket suitable for holdingone or more items, such as foodstuff including, without limitation,vegetables, fruits, salad ingredients, and other consumable items usedto prepare meals. In some embodiments, the perforated basket 120 isdimensioned to hold at least one serving of salad ingredients (e.g.,greens, lettuce, and the like). The holding capacity of the basket 120can be selected based on the desired number of servings prepared withthe processing system 100.

In some embodiments, including the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, theinner cover 136 and the inner container 120 define a somewhatcylindrical holding chamber 150. Both a bottom 152 and a sidewall 156 ofthe inner container 120 and the inner cover 136 cooperate to form theillustrated holding chamber 150. Other configurations of holdingchambers can also be employed.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, the outer container 122 can have anelongate alignment member 160 receivable in a corresponding recess 162on the outer surface of the inner container 120. The outer cover 138 canalso have an elongate alignment member 164 that extends into and througha passageway 170 (see FIG. 2) of the drive member 140. The members 160,164 are generally conical protrusions that cooperate to define acontainer axis of rotation 172 about which the inner container 120rotates with respect to the outer container 122. Exemplary protrusionscan also be frusto-conical in shape, bullet shaped, or any othersuitable shape for defining an axis of rotation.

The chamber 150 can be interposed between the members 160, 164 such thatany contents held in the inner container 120 are likewise rotated aboutthe axis of rotation 172. For eccentric motion, the axis of rotation 172is offset from an axis of symmetry of the chamber 150.

When the lever 130 is pivoted about a lever axis of rotation 180, thedrive system 144 rotates the inner container 120. As the lever 130 ispivoted towards the closed position (indicated by the arrow 182 of FIG.4), the arms 186 a, 186 b (collectively referred to as 186) push aslider 190 outwardly, as indicated by the arrow 192 of FIG. 4. To movethe slider 190 in the opposite direction, the lever 130 is pivotedtowards the open position. The slider 190 can thus be linearlyreciprocated by angularly displacing the lever 130.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lever axis of rotation 180 is non-parallel withthe container axis of rotation 172. The lever axis of rotation 180, insome embodiments, is proximate the periphery of the cover assembly 114and spaced from the chamber 150. The lever axis of rotation 180 can becloser to an edge of the cover assembly 114 than to the container axisof rotation 172 such that the lever 130 is oriented generally radiallywith respect to the container axis of rotation 172. The lever axis ofrotation 180 can also be at other orientations and positions.

The lever 130 can be pivoted through an angle α (FIG. 4). In somenon-limiting embodiments, the lever 130 in the closed position and theopen position defines an angle α of at least about 10 degrees, 20degrees, 30 degrees, 40 degrees, or 50 degrees, 70 degrees, 90 degreesor ranges encompassing such angles. The main body 106 can convenientlyrest on a support surface while the lever 130 is actuated, unliketraditional salad spinners with horizontally rotating handles.

When the inner container 120 is rotated at a sufficiently highrotational speed, the generated centrifugal forces cause liquids orother unwanted substances on the contents retained in the innercontainer 120 to travel radially toward and through the openings in theinner container 120. The expelled substances can then be collected inthe space 200 (see FIG. 3) defined between the inner container 120 andthe outer container 122 for subsequent disposal or consumption. If theremoved substance is water, for example, the water can accumulate alonga bottom 202 of the outer container 122.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the drive system 144 includes a rotatablegear assembly 210 coupled to the outer cover 138, the slider 190 movableover at least a portion of the gear assembly 210, and the arms 186pivotally coupled to both the lever 130 and the slider 190. Theillustrated pair of pivoting arms 186 are disposed on either side of theslider 190.

Lower ends 220, 222 of the arms 186 a, 186 b are pivotally coupled tothe slider 190. As shown in FIG. 9, upper ends 224, 226 of the arms 186a, 186 b are pivotally coupled to a bottom portion 230 of the lever 130.As such, each of the arms 186 a, 186 b is pivotally coupled to the lever130 and the slider 190.

The rotatable gear assembly 210 of FIG. 6 can include an elongatedmember 212 and gear 234 fixedly coupled to the elongated member 212. Theelongated member 212 has a first end 240, a second end 242, and anelongated member body 244 extending between the first and second ends240, 242. The illustrated gear 234 is coupled to the second end 242 ofthe elongated member 212.

The elongated member 212 is threaded and extends through a through hole250 (FIG. 3) in the slider 190. One or more engaging features of theslider 190 (e.g., a tooth extending inwardly from the slider 190 intothe through hole 250) can be disposed within one or more helical slots252 (FIG. 6) of the elongated member 212. Various types of threadedmembers or screws can be used to form the elongated member 212.

The engaging features can be followers, protrusions, or other types ofelements suitable for cramming against sidewalls of a helical slot 252.As the slider 190 moves longitudinally along the elongated member 212,the engaging features can slide along the slot 252 thereby rotating theelongated member 212 about its longitudinal axis 254.

With continued reference to FIG. 6, the gear 234 can drivingly engagethe drive member 140 of the inner cover 136. The gear 234 can be a bevelgear (including a spiral bevel gear), spur gear, or suitable type ofdrive member for transmitting torques. The illustrated gear 234 is inthe form of a bevel gear having teeth spaced to mate and to mesh withcorresponding teeth of the drive member 140.

The outer cover 138 has a window 251 through which a portion of the gear234 extends, as shown in FIG. 3. The outer cover 138 also has a linearguide member 260 (FIG. 3) that slidably engages and rotationally fixesthe slider 190. In some embodiments, a lower surface 262 of the linearguide member 260 has a curved surface shaped to mate with acomplementary shaped outer surface of the slider 190, if needed ordesired. Various types of retaining structures can be used torotationally fix the slider 190.

The drive system 114 can have a clutch or other mechanism for allowingthe inner container 120 to spin freely. The illustrated drive system 114of FIG. 3 includes a bearing 253 (e.g., a one-way bearing) coupledbetween the elongated member 212 and the gear 234. Because of thebearing 253, the internal components can continuously or discontinuouslymove as the lever 130 is moved in the opposite direction. To maintainspinning of the inner container 120, the lever 130 can be pumped up anddown repeatedly.

Referring to FIG. 6, the outer cover 138 includes a lever bracket 269for pivotally retaining the lever 130 and a pair of mounting brackets270, 272 for axially retaining the gear assembly 210. The ends 240, 282of the gear assembly 210 are rotatably retained in the brackets 270,272, respectively. The illustrated brackets 270, 272 of FIGS. 6 to 8have curved cutouts that are sized to receive the ends 240, 282. In someembodiments, the brackets 270, 272 include bearings or other componentsfor rotatably retaining the gear assembly 210.

The lever bracket 269 defines the lever axis of rotation 180. Someembodiments of the lever bracket 269 can define the lever axis ofrotation 180 offset from the chamber 150, as noted above. Various typesof brackets can be used to connect the lever 130 to the cover assembly114.

FIGS. 10-12 illustrate the inner cover 136 having a generally circularmain body 273, the drive member 140, and a cylindrical mounting flange300. The mounting flange 300 is positioned at least proximate the outeredge 302 such that the flange 300 can be received in an upper portion302 of the inner container 120, as shown in FIG. 3.

The drive member 140 is generally bevel gear integrally formed with themain body 273. The drive member 140 has the alignment feature 170 (inthe form of a passageway) for receiving the member 164. Such analignment feature 170 can therefore have a shape generally correspondingto the shape of the member 164. The illustrated alignment feature 170 isa tapered passageway that closely receives the member 164. Duringrotation of the inner container 120, the member 164 bears against theinner surface of the alignment feature 170. Other types of alignmentfeatures (e.g., protrusions, spindles, and the like) can also be used tomaintain proper positioning of the cover assembly 114.

Referring to FIG. 12, the flange 300 can include one or more tabs 312suitable for physically contacting the inner container 120 to limit,reduce, or substantially prevent relative movement between the innercover 136 and the inner container 120. The tabs 312 can be evenly orunevenly spaced circumferentially along the flange 300. When assembled,the rotationally locked inner cover 136 and the inner container 120 canrotate in unison about the container axis of rotation 172. In someembodiments, the upper portion 302 of the inner container 120 has anarray of receiving features (e.g., slots, recessed regions, and thelike), each configured to receive one of the tabs 312. Various lockingmeans can be employed to achieve the desired fit. In other embodiments,a frictional fit between the flange 300, without tabs, and the upperportion 302 is sufficient to prevent unwanted rotational movementbetween the inner cover 136 and the inner container 120. Additionally oralternatively, the upper cover 138 can also have a mounting flange 300with or without tabs or other locking means.

The inner container 120 of FIGS. 13 to 15 has an elongated alignmentfeature 317, a somewhat curved bottom 320, and a sidewall 322 thatcooperate to define a holding space 324. The alignment feature 317 is ahollow generally conical structure that extends into the space 324.Openings (not shown) can be formed in the bottom 320 and/or sidewall322. These openings can be sized based on the substances to be removedfrom the contents held in the holding space 324. In some embodiments,the openings can be sized for the passage of water therethrough. In someembodiments, the openings can be sized for the passage of particles(e.g., seeds, debris, etc.) therethrough. The openings can be generallycircular, elongated (e.g., elongated slots orientated vertically,horizontally, or both), or other types of openings suitable for thepassage of substances therethrough, especially when high centrifugalforces are applied.

The processing system 100 can also have other types of inner containers.For example, the inner container 120 can be a non-perforate bowl.

FIGS. 16 to 18 show the outer container 122 having a shape similar tothe shape of the inner container 120. As such, the inner container 120can be nested in the outer container 122. The illustrated outercontainer 122 has the member 160, curved bottom 325, and sidewall 327that cooperate to define a holding space 330. As noted above, the member160 is configured to fit within the recess 162 of the alignment feature317.

FIGS. 19 to 20 show a processing system 400 for grinding foodstuff. Theillustrated processing system 400 may be generally similar to theprocessing system 100 of FIGS. 1-5, except as detailed below.

The processing system 400 has a cover assembly 410 and a lever system412 pivotally to the cover assembly 410. The lever system 412 drives agrinding element 420 via a connecting rod 422 (illustrated as a driveshaft for driving the grinding element 420). The connecting rod 422includes a drive member 424 that engages a drive system 426. A main body430 of the processing system 400 defines a chamber 440 for holdingfoodstuff, such as peppercorns, coffee beans, spices, seeds, and thelike.

In operation, the user can pivot the lever 412 from the open position(illustrated) to a closed position (indicated by the arrow 446) suchthat the connecting rod 422 and grinding element 420 rotate togetherabout an axis of rotation 450. In this manner, the grinding element 420rotates relative to a grinding surface 452 of the main body 430.Foodstuff in the chamber 440 can fall between the rotating grindingelement 420 and the grinding surface 452. The grinding element 420 andthe grinding surface 452 grind the foodstuff disposed therebetween. Theground foodstuff then falls from between the grinding element 420 andthe grinding surface 452.

The lever 412 can be repeatedly pivoted between the closed and openpositions to grind a desired amount of foodstuff. That is, the amount offoodstuff dispensed from the processing system 400 can be adjusted byincreasing or decreasing the rotational speed of the lever 412.

The processing system 400 can also be used to grind, mill, dispense,sift, or otherwise process other types of foodstuff, including, withoutlimitation, spices, fruits, vegetables, and the like. Additionally,various types of tools can be used with the processing systems disclosedherein. The term “tool” is broadly construed and may include, but is notlimited to, a perforated basket (discussed in connection with FIGS.1-5), a grinder (discussed in connection with FIGS. 19 and 20), millingelement, cutting blades or elements, and the like.

FIG. 28 illustrates a processing system 500 that has a cover assembly514 with a lever system 510 for rotating an inner container (e.g., atool such as a perforated basket) and braking system 519 for reducingthe rotational speed of the inner container. (The lever system 510 canbe similar to the lever system 110 of FIG. 1.) A main body 517 includesan outer container 522 and the cover assembly 514 that can be removedfrom the outer container 522 to remove the processed food.

The cover assembly 514 of FIGS. 29 and 30 includes inner and outercovers 536, 538. The outer cover 538 can include a lid base 539. In someembodiments, the lid base 539 is fixedly coupled to the outer cover 538.In some embodiments, the lid base 539 is detachably coupled to the outercover 538. In other embodiments, the lid base 539 is integrally formedwith the outer cover 538.

A drive system 544 of FIG. 30 is operable to rotate the inner cover 536about an axis of rotation 535 with respect to the outer cover 538 when alever 530 of the lever system 510 is rotated about an axis 543 (FIG.28). A retainer 541 can be coupled to a drive member 512, which extendsthrough an opening 552 in the lid base 539 and an opening 562 in theinner cover 536. A slider 560 movably mounted to the drive member 512can be sandwiched between the inner cover 536 and lid base 539. In someembodiments, the slider 560 is positioned along a section of the drivemember 512 located between the lid base 539 and inner cover 536.

The braking system 519 of FIG. 30 can include a depressible button 513(see FIG. 41) and a movable braking member 517. A user can depress thebutton 513 to move the braking member 517 through an opening 521 in thelid base 539 and into engagement with the inner cover 536. Frictionalinteraction between the braking member 517 and the rotating inner cover536 can effectively reduce the rotational speed of the inner cover 536.

The lever system 510 of FIG. 30 has drive gear 567 that engages arotatable drive section 569. The drive gear 567 is fixedly coupled tothe end of the lever 530. For example, the lever system 510 can have aone-piece or multi-piece construction. In some embodiments, the lever530 and drive gear 567 are monolithically formed via a molding process,such as an injection molding process or compression molding process. Theillustrated drive gear 567 of FIG. 30 includes teeth 583 that mate withteeth 584 of a rotatable drive section 569.

FIGS. 32-34 show a rotatable gear assembly 600 that includes a gearmember 602 used to drive the inner cover 536 when the level system 510is actuated. The gear member 602 includes a spur gear 610 and anelongated member 614 extending from the spur gear 610. The spur gear 610mates with a drive member 620, and the elongated member 614 extendsthrough slider 560 (illustrated in the form of a ratchet). Other typesof rotatable gear assemblies can also be used.

The rotatable drive member 620 of FIGS. 35-38 has the drive section 569,an arcuate outer gear 642, and a main body 644 that defines a channel650. The spur gear 610 disposed in the channel 650 can drivingly matewith the outer gear 642, which defines a non-linear outer periphery ofthe channel 650. When the rotatable drive member 620 rotates about anaxis of rotation 672 (FIG. 37) along a plane 673, the outer gear 642causes rotation of the gear member 602, which is drivingly coupled tothe lid base 539 via the slider 560.

Referring to FIG. 36, the rotatable drive member 620 defines an angle ofα in the range of about 35 degrees to about 110 degrees. Otherconfigurations are also possible. For example, the outer gear 642 cansubtend an angle α in the range of about 45 degrees to about 110degrees. Such rotatable drive member 620 can be rotated along a plane ina space between the inner and outer covers 536, 538.

Referring to FIG. 31, the slider 560 is movable between a disengagedposition (illustrated) and an engaged position. When the lever 530 isactuated downwardly, the slider 560 moves downwardly from theillustrated disengaged position towards the inner cover 536 (shownremoved in FIG. 31) until a plurality of teeth 570 of the slider 560engage drive features 572 (e.g., teeth, slots, aperture, and the like)of the inner cover 536 (see FIG. 32). The slider 560 is not locked withthe inner cover 536 when the lever 530 is stationary and/or movedupwardly, thus allowing the inner cover 536 to spin freely.

To rotate an inner container coupled to the inner cover 536, a latch 662(see FIG. 30) can be opened to allow the lever 530 to move between alowered latched position and a raised position. When the latch 662 isopened, a biasing member can move the lever 530 to the raised position.As the lever 530 is actuated downwardly along a plane 681 (FIG. 41), theinteraction of the drive gear 567 and the gear section 569 causesrotation of the drive member 620 about the axis 672 such that the outergear 642 causes rotation of the spur gear 610 at a first end 682 of thechannel 650. The slider 560 slides longitudinally along the rotatingelongated member 614 until the slider 560 mates with the features 572 ofthe inner cover 536. The slider 560 and the elongated member 614 rotatetogether causing rotation of the inner cover 536. Once the gear member602 reaches the opposing second end 683 of the channel 650 (FIG. 34),the inner cover 536 can spin freely. The lever 530 can be moved upwardlysuch that the slider 560 either moves upwardly away from the inner cover536 or slides over the inner cover 536. After the lever 530 is raised,the user can push down on the lever 530 again to further spin the innercontainer.

According yet another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 44, a hand-heldfood processing system 700 is configured to facilitate processing of afood item, such as chopping, mincing, grinding, cutting, peeling orotherwise processing a food item, for example, garlic, onions,vegetables, dressings or other food items. The system 700 includes a cup702 that defines at least a portion of a chamber 704 (FIG. 45)configured to receive and hold the food item. The cup 702 is removablycoupled to a lid 706, which may be removably coupled to an optionalcover member 708, providing for an ergonomic housing. As illustrated inFIG. 46, the cover member 708 can also serve to house other elements ofthe apparatus 700 between the lid 706 and the cover member 708, whichmay be desired to be positioned outside of the chamber 704, as will bedescribed in more detail below.

As illustrated in FIG. 47B, which is a cross-sectional view taken fromFIG. 47A, the system 700 further includes a drive mechanism 710,rotatably mounted with respect to the cup 702 (FIG. 44). As illustratedin FIG. 49, the system 700 further includes a ratchet mechanism having aratchet wheel 712 and a drive wheel 714. Referring back to FIG. 47B, thedrive wheel 714 is coupled to a drive shaft 716 extending along or in adirection of an axis 718. In one embodiment, the drive wheel 714 and thedrive shaft 716 can be fabricated from a unitary body of material. Asshown in FIGS. 48A and 48B, in one aspect, the ratchet wheel 712 can bepositioned within a recess 711 in the drive mechanism 710, which facestoward the drive wheel 714 (FIG. 47B). The ratchet wheel 712 ispositioned between the drive mechanism 710 and the drive wheel 714, andconfigured to engage the drive wheel 714 to induce a rotation thereof.

In one embodiment, the ratchet wheel 712 is moveable in a directionparallel to the axis 718 (FIG. 47B) for moving toward the drive wheel714 to engage the drive wheel 714 and for moving away from the drivewheel 714 to disengage therefrom (see FIGS. 50A and 50B), allowing freerotation of the drive wheel 714. In one aspect, the drive wheel 714includes a first surface 720 (FIG. 47B) and a second surface 722 (FIG.47B). As illustrated in FIG. 48A, the second surface 722 includes aplurality of circumferentially spaced teeth 724, which may be evenlyspaced.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 49, the drive wheel 714 includes aplurality of circumferentially spaced driven teeth 726, which may beevenly spaced, and are configured to be engageable by the plurality ofteeth 724 on the second surface 722 of the ratchet wheel 712.

In addition, the first surface 720 of the ratchet wheel 712 includes atleast one variable contour 728 having a first end 730 and a second end732. As illustrated in FIG. 48B, the drive mechanism 710 includes atleast one protrusion 734 projecting from a portion of the recess 711toward the first surface 720 of the ratchet wheel 712. In theillustrated embodiment, as shown in FIG. 49, the contoured surface 728includes a plurality of ramps 736 having the first and second ends 730,732, which are defined by first and second stop members 738, 740, andthe drive mechanism 710 includes a plurality of protrusions 734 (FIG.48B). The protrusions 734 are positioned toward the first stop member738 before the drive mechanism 710 is actuated, and configured to travelalong the variable contour of the ramps 736 toward the second stopmember 732 upon actuation of the drive mechanism 710. An interactionbetween the protrusions 734 and the variable contour of the ramp 736moves the ratchet wheel 712 toward the drive wheel 714 to facilitateengagement of the plurality of teeth 724 of the ratchet wheel 712 to theplurality of driven teeth 726 of the drive wheel 714, rotating the drivewheel 714 and drive shaft 716 (FIG. 46B).

As illustrated in FIG. 45, in one embodiment, the system 700 may includean actuating member 742, which in one aspect can be a pull memberattached to a cable 744. In this aspect, the drive mechanism 710 caninclude a pulley member having a groove formed about a circumferencethereof and configured to receive the cable 744. When a user pulls onthe pull member, the cable 744 rotates or actuates the pulley member forbiasing the ratchet wheel 712 toward the drive wheel 714 as discussedabove. As illustrated in the exploded view of FIG. 46, the drivemechanism 710 and ratchet wheel 712 can be positioned between the cover708 and the lid 706, so that the drive mechanism 710 and ratchet wheel712 are not exposed to the food item. In such an embodiment, and asillustrated in FIG. 46, the lid 706 can include an opening for allowingmechanical communication between the ratchet and drive wheels 714, 716.

In addition, or instead, in another aspect, the actuating member 742 caninclude a motor, such as an electric motor, in electrical communicationwith the drive mechanism 710 and configured to rotate the drivemechanism 710 for rotating and biasing the ratchet wheel 712 toward thedrive wheel 714 as discussed above.

FIGS. 50A and 50B illustrate only the protrusion 734 of the drivemechanism 710 along with the ratchet wheel 712 and drive wheel 714 forclarity of illustration and description. As illustrated in FIG. 50A,before actuation of the drive mechanism 710, the ratchet wheel 712 isspaced from the drive ratchet 714 in a disengaged position. Uponactuation, the plurality of teeth 724 of the ratchet wheel 712 engagesthe plurality of driven teeth 726 of the drive wheel 714, respectively,as discussed above to be in an engaged position. Further, the protrusion734 travels the length of the ramp 736, and ceases motion uponconfronting the second stop member 740 toward the second end 732 of theramp 736 as shown in FIG. 50B, for facilitating movement of the ratchetwheel 712 toward the drive wheel 714 and engagement of their respectiveplurality of teeth 724, 726.

By the time the drive mechanism 710 and the protrusion 734 cease motion,the ratchet wheel 712 has imparted rotational motion to the drive wheel714, and the ratchet and drive wheels 712, 714 continue rotating. Sincethe ratchet wheel 712 rotates with respect to the drive mechanism 710after the drive mechanism 710 has ceased motion, the protrusion 734 getspositioned in its starting position toward the first end 730 of the ramp736, as shown in FIG. 50A. The first stop member 738 blocks and ceasesmotion of the ratchet wheel 712 upon confronting the protrusion 734;however, the drive wheel 714 continues to rotate due to built momentum.Since the protrusion 734 is back in its position toward the first end730, the ratchet wheel 712 recedes back toward the disengaged position,allowing the drive wheel 714, and therefore, the drive shaft 716 (FIG.47B) to continue rotating, for processing the food item as will bedescribed below.

The ratchet wheel 712 can recede in any suitable manner, including butnot limited to, being biased back by the driven teeth 726 of the drivewheel 714, as the driven teeth 726 of the drive wheel 714 cam passed theplurality of teeth 724 of the ratchet wheel 712. In addition, orinstead, the ratchet wheel 712 can recede by being biased toward therecess 711 via gravity depending on an orientation of the system 700. Inaddition, or instead, a biasing member 746 (FIG. 46), such as a washerspring can be positioned between the ratchet and drive wheels 712, 714,such as toward an inner diameter thereof, to facilitate recession of theratchet wheel 712 and free rotation of the drive wheel 714. Otherrecession configurations are possible and contemplated to be within thescope of this disclosure and the claims that follow. In someembodiments, the first surface 720 of the ratchet wheel may includeguiding ramps 737 (FIG. 49), extending substantially adjacent the ramps736, to provide at least one guiding wall toward a side of therespective protrusions 734 (FIG. 48B), further facilitating stabilityand guiding of the protrusions 734 as they travel along the ramps 736.

As illustrated in FIGS. 45 and 46, the system 700 further includes atleast one food processing arm 748 drivably coupled to the drive shaft716 to rotate upon rotation of the drive shaft 716. Further, a leveragemechanism 750 such as a bolt add-on 752 and/or an extension shaft 754may couple the drive shaft 716 to the food processing arm 748 for moreefficient and stronger rotation of the food processing arm 748. In theillustrated embodiment, the system 700 includes more than one foodprocessing arms 748, which may include blades, blending structures,elastomeric dull surfaces for peeling for example garlic skin by beatingits outer surface, or any other suitable food processing arm.Furthermore in one embodiment, the components of the system 700 areremovable from each other for easy cleaning or for replacing parts orswitching between different types of food processing arms 748.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the drivemechanism, ratchet wheel, and drive wheel configuration described inconjunction with the embodiments shown in FIGS. 44 through 50B can beincorporated in the all the other embodiments discussed herein, forexample in addition to, or instead of, the sliding member discussedabove in conjunction with other embodiments. For example, the processingsystem of FIGS. 1-3 may utilize the drive mechanism, ratchet wheel, anddrive wheel to facilitate free rotation of the inner container.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to providefurther embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent applicationpublications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patentapplications and non-patent publications referred to in thisspecification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, areincorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of theembodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of thevarious patents, applications and publications to provide yet furtherembodiments.

These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of theabove-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, theterms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specificembodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should beconstrued to include all possible embodiments along with the full scopeof equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, theclaims are not limited by the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hand-held system configured to facilitateprocessing of a food item, the system comprising: a cup and a lidremovably mounted with respect to the cup, wherein the cup and liddefine at least a portion of a chamber configured to receive the fooditem; an actuator selectively coupled to a drive shaft, the drive shaftextending in the chamber along a first axis, the actuator including atleast one protrusion from the bottom surface of the actuator; a foodprocessing arm removably and drivingly engaged to the drive shaft,rotation of the drive shaft rotating the food processing arm; a drivewheel coupled to the drive shaft and having a plurality ofcircumferentially driven teeth; and a ratchet wheel positioned betweenthe actuator and the drive wheel, the ratchet wheel being moveable alongthe first axis between an engaged position and a disengaged position,and having a first surface and a second surface, opposed to the firstsurface, the first surface having a variable contour extendingcontinuously between a first end defined by a first stop member and asecond end defined by a second stop member, the first and second stopmembers each protruding from the variable contours towards the actuator,the second surface having a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth,wherein the ratchet wheel is positioned such that, in both the engagedand disengaged positions, the first surface faced the bottom surface ofthe actuator, the second surface faces the plurality ofcircumferentially driven teeth of the drive wheel, and the bottomsurface of the protrusion contacts the variable contour, and wherein theratchet wheel is positioned such that, in the disengaged position theprotrusion is positioned toward the first end of the variable contourand the ratchet wheel is spaced from the drive wheel, and, in theengaged position, the protrusion abuts the second stop member at thesecond end of the variable contour and the plurality of spaced teeth ofthe ratchet wheel engage the plurality of driven teeth of the drivewheel, respectively, to rotate the drive wheel and drive shaft.
 2. Thehand-held system of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism and ratchetwheel are positioned outside the chamber such that the drive mechanismand ratchet wheel are not exposed to the food item.
 3. The hand-heldsystem of claim 2, further comprising: a cover removably mounted withrespect to the cup and the lid, the drive mechanism and the ratchetwheel being positioned between the cover and the lid.
 4. The hand-heldsystem of claim 1 wherein the drive mechanism includes a recess, theratchet wheel being at least partially positioned in the recess.
 5. Thehand-held system of claim 1 wherein the actuator includes at least oneof a pulley system and an electric motor.
 6. The hand-held system ofclaim 1 wherein the actuator includes a pulley system having a cable anda pull member and the drive mechanism includes a spool having a grooveconfigured to receive the cable wherein manipulating the pull memberrotates the drive mechanism.
 7. The drive system of claim 1 wherein thevariable contour includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced ramps,each having first and second ends, the drive mechanism includes aplurality of circumferentially spaced protrusions, each configured totravel along a corresponding ramp of the plurality of ramps, theplurality of first end and second ends being respectively defined byfirst and second stop members, wherein, prior to actuation eachprotrusion is positioned toward the first stop member of thecorresponding ramp, during actuation the protrusions travel along thecorresponding ramps, respectively, to move the ratchet wheel toward theengaged position.
 8. A drive system comprising: an actuator selectivelycoupled to a drive shaft extending along a first axis and configured tobe coupled to a processing component of a food processing system havinga chamber for holding a food item and a lid removably mounted withrespect to the chamber, the actuator including at least one protrusionfrom a bottom surface of the actuator; a drive wheel coupled to thedrive shaft and having a plurality of circumferentially driven teeth;and a ratchet wheel positioned between the actuator and the drive wheel,the ratchet wheel being moveable along the first axis between an engagedposition and a disengaged position, and having a first surface and asecond surface, opposed to the first surface, the first surface having avariable contour extending continuously between a first end defined by afirst stop member and a second end defined by a second stop member, thefirst and second stop members each protruding from the variable contourstowards the actuator, the second surface having a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced teeth, wherein the ratchet wheel is positionedsuch that, in both the engaged and disengaged positions, the firstsurface faces the bottom surface of the actuator, the second surfacefaces the plurality of circumferentially driven teeth of the drivewheel, and a bottom surface of the protrusion contacts the variablecontour, and wherein the ratchet wheel is positioned such that, in thedisengaged position the protrusion is positioned toward the first end ofthe variable contour and the ratchet wheel is spaced from the drivewheel, and in the engaged position, the protrusion abuts the second stopmember at the second end of the variable contour and the plurality ofspaced teeth of the ratchet wheel engage the plurality of driven teethof the drive wheel, respectively, to rotate the drive wheel and driveshaft.
 9. The drive system of claim 8 wherein the variable contourincludes a plurality of circumferentially spaced ramps, each havingfirst and second ends, the drive mechanism includes a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced protrusions, each configured to travel along acorresponding ramp of the plurality of spaced ramps, the plurality offirst end and second ends being respectively defined by first and secondstop members, wherein, prior to actuation each protrusion is positionedtoward the first stop member of the corresponding ramp, during actuationthe protrusions travel along the corresponding ramps, respectively, tomove the ratchet wheel toward the engaged position.
 10. The drive systemof claim 9, further comprising: a plurality of guiding ramps adjacentthe plurality of spaced ramps and including at least one guiding wall tofacilitate guiding the plurality of protrusions along the plurality ofspaced ramps.
 11. The drive system of claim 8 wherein the actuatingmechanism includes at least one of a pulley system and an electricmotor.
 12. The drive system of claim 8 wherein the actuating mechanismincludes a cable and a pull member and the drive mechanism includes aspool having a groove configured to receive the cable whereinmanipulating the pull member rotates the drive mechanism.
 13. A drivesystem configured to impart rotational motion to a processing componentof a food processing system and facilitate free rotation thereof, thefood processing system having a chamber for holding a food item to beprocessed and a lid configured to cover the chamber, the drive systemcomprising: an actuator selectively coupled to a drive shaft extendingalong a first axis and configured to be coupled to the processingcomponent, the actuator including at least one protrusion from a bottomsurface of the actuator; a drive wheel coupled to the drive shaft andhaving a plurality of circumferentially driven teeth; and a ratchetwheel positioned between the actuator and the drive wheel, the ratchetwheel being moveable in a direction substantially parallel to the firstaxis between an engaged position and a disengaged position, and having afirst surface and a second surface, opposed to the first surface, thefirst surface having a variable contour extending continuously between afirst end defined by a first stop member and a second end defined by asecond stop member, the first and second stop members each protrudingfrom the variable contours towards the actuator, the second surfacehaving a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth, wherein theratchet wheel is positioned such that, in both the engaged anddisengaged positions, the first surface faces the bottom surface of theactuator, the second surface faces the plurality of circumferentiallydriven teeth of the drive wheel, and a bottom surface of the protrusioncontacts the variable contour, and wherein the ratchet wheel ispositioned such that, an interaction between the contoured surface ofthe ratchet wheel and the protrusion of the drive mechanism rotates theratchet wheel and moves the ratchet wheel toward the engaged position tofacilitate engaging the plurality of teeth to the plurality of driventeeth to impart rotational motion to the drive wheel.
 14. The hand-heldsystem of claim 1 wherein the drive wheel is located at least partiallywithin the chamber between the cup and the lid, and the drive wheel andratchet wheel mechanically communicate through an opening in the lid.15. The drive system of claim 8 wherein the drive wheel is configured tobe located at least partially within the chamber between the cup, andthe lid and the drive wheel and ratchet wheel mechanically communicatewith each other through an opening in the lid.
 16. The drive system ofclaim 13 wherein the drive wheel is configured to be located at leastpartially within the chamber between the cup and the lid, and the drivewheel and ratchet wheel mechanically communicate with each other throughan opening in the lid.